Method for pre-cooling transportation vehicles



Jan. 22, 1957 B. WILSON El AL 2,778,206

METHOD FOR PRE-COOLING TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Original Filed Sept. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 o ////I \Z// //r//77 I" 494/ 4/ I Q 4 2 .J'-, P k z I t .74 a 3/ ll k 4 L/ IN VENTOR Z amen Jan. 22, 1957 B. WILSON ET AL 2,778,206

METHOD FOR FREE-COOLING TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Original Filed Sept. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 2 INVENTOR Jan. 22, 1957 B. WILSON ET AL 2,778,206

METHOD FOR PRE-COOLING TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Original Filgd Sept. 12, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 W &MK AWWW Jan. 22, 1957 METHOD FOR PRE-COOLING Original Filed Sept. 12, 1949 B. WILSON ET AL TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I; //0 1 i3 33% V V/l wuemtm Broaoas h z/sorz Hi a/il M. f/z'nc;

5524M kw United States Patent METHOD FOR PRE-COOLBNG TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES Broadus Wilson, Raleigh, N. C., and Hipolit M. Hincz, Miami, Fla, assignors to Southern Air Conditioning Corporation, a corporation of Florida Original application September 12, 1949, Serial No. 115,231, now Patent No. 2,634,589, dated April 14, 1953. Divided and this application November 24, 1952, Serial No. 328,750

Claims. (Cl. 62171) This application is a division of our application Serial Number 115,231, filed September 12, 1949, for Apparatus for Pre-Cooling Transportation Vehicles, now Patent 2,634,589, granted April 14, 1953.

In the shipment by railway refrigerator cars, of crated fruits such as oranges, it is customary to pre-cool the produce after the crated fruit has been loaded intothe conveyance. Such pre-cooling reduces the temperature of the crated produce to thereby retard decay and spoilage and, in connection with the refrigeration apparatus or ice bunkers with which the car may be equipped, ensures the arrival of the produce at its destination in fresh sound condition.

However, since any appreciable delay in starting a shipment after packing, results in an added cost of transportation, it is highly desirable that the pre-cooling should he carried out as quickly as possible in order to reduce overhead charges and to make fullest use of the car. These considerations apply also to the case of loaded refrigerator trucks which are to be pre-cooled.

The total weight of a load of closely-packed crates of fruit or vegetables is always less than the weight load capacity of the truck or car in which the load is packed. In other words, the average weight per cubic unit of crated food products is usually considerably less than the load-carrying capacity per cubic unit of the loadcarrying space of the vehicle. Thus, carrying or transportation costs can be reduced to a minimum only by closely packing the crates in the shipping space. Prior to the present invention, where a load of produce was to be precooled after loading into the conveyance, it was deemed necessary to provide spacer strips between successive layers or tiers of crates in order to afford a space between them for the circulation of chilled air. However, this procedure added to the time and cost for loading the conveyance, required an outlay for wooden spacer strips, and cut down the amount of space available for produce. As an alternative, the crates were stored in a cooling room after packing, until reduced to the proper shipping temperature and then loaded. This procedure is expensive in that it requires a refrigerating room of substantial size and involves the added cost of extra handling of each crate to place it in and remove it from the cooling room. It also undesirably increases the time between picking of the fruit and starting it on shipment to market.

We have found that it is possible to rapidly and satisfactorily pre-cool a conveyance loaded with tightly-packed crates, without spacer strips, provided that the chilled air is discharged into the space above the load in the proper direction and under a sufiiciently high head or pressure.

it is therefore an object of the invention to provide a method of rapidly and etliciently pre-cooling a shipping compartment such as an automotive truck or railway refrigerator car tightly packed with loaded crates so that shipping costs, spoilage, and the elapsed time from picking of the fruit until it is started to market, are all reduced to a minimum.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent after a study of the following disclosure in connection with the drawings wherein are shown two species of apparatus suitable for carrying out the method of our invention.

n the drawings:

Figure 1 is a central vertical longitudinal section of a loaded truck having a pro-cooling apparatus connected with the rear end'of the truck in the process of precooling the load.

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section taken in a plane identified by the line 2-2'0f Figure 1 looking in the direction of the arrows and showing the inlet snout or nozzle, the rubber sealing tube between the cooling unit and truck, and the heat exchange unit.

Figure 3 is a detail cross section to an enlarged scale taken on the line 33 of Figure 2 and showing the details of the flexible inlet snout and hinged supporting shelf therefor in extended position, together with the sealing tube.

Figure 4 is a cross section corresponding to Figure 3 but showing the snout rolled up and the supporting shelf in raised or folded position.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view taken as indicated by the line 55-53 of Figure 2 showing one of the precooler supporting rollers and the sealing tube or gasket for effecting a fluid-tight seal or joint between the cooling unit and the open rear end of the vehicle.

Figure 6 is an elevation of the right side of the pre cooler and rear end of a truck showing the manner in which the apparatus is temporarily secured to the truck during the carrying out of the pre-cooling method.

Figure 7 is a detail view to an enlarged scale, showing one of the clasps by which the pre-cooling apparatus and rear end of the truck are drawn together in fluidtight relation while the pre-cooling process is being carried out.

Figure 8 is a side elevation of a number of crates of fruit or vegetables showing how the vehicle may be loaded to capacity and without the use of spacer strips while at the same time permitting adequate space for the circulation of chilled air through the crated produce.

Figure 9 is a view looking from the left of Figure 8 and showing a number of packed crates in end elevation.

Figure 10 is a view in longitudinal vertical section of a second form of apparatus with the fan and heat-exchan e unit inserted into the rear end of a truck above the load therein.

Figure 11 is a horizontal sectional view to an enlarged scale taken in a plane indicated by the line IL-il, Figure 10, and showing the mechanism by which the pre-cooling unit may be raised and lowered to adjust the height thereof to the truck to be serviced.

Figure 12 is a sectional view to the same scale as Figure 10, taken in a plane indicated by line 112-12, Figure 10, showing the external controls and coolant connections t0 the pre-cooling unit.

Figure 13 is a section taken in a plane indicated by the line 13-13, Figure 10, showing the mechanism for securing the cooling unit to its supporting platform.

Figure 14 is a detail section to an enlarged scale taken on line i i-14, Figure 10 and showing details of the cooling unit frame. a

Figure 15 is an elevational detail view, partly in section, in a plane indicated by the line i515, Figure 11, showing to an enlarged scale one of the extensible supporting legs of the cooling unit and the means by which it is an chored to its platform, and

Figure 16 is a detail section by line 16-16, Figure 12.

taken in a plane indicated Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral 1 identifies an automotive truck, shown in Figure l with its central portion broken away, and having its loadcarrying space loaded with tightly-packed crates 2 to within a small distance of the top, say six inches.

A loading platform 3 supports a mobile pre-cooling unit generally identified at 4, and including a casing 5 supported by rollers or castors 6. Each castor is attached to the plunger or piston of a hydraulic jack device 7, Figure 5. All jack devices 7 are duplicates and are connected through a control valve, not shown, with a suitable source of fluid pressure so that all may be simultaneously operated to adjust the height of casing 5 from platform 3 relatively to the truck or trailer 1.

A fan or blower 8, which may be of the centrifugal type, is shown mounted in casing 5 with an inlet opening 9, and a discharge passage 10 leading to discharge opening 11 formed through the upper forward wall of easing 5. From Figure 2 it will be noted that the opening is wide enough to extend substantially the entire inside width of the load compartment of the truck but has a relatively short dimension vertically.

A shelf 12 is hinged at 13 along the lower edge of the opening 11 and is adapted to be swung from the open, horizontal position shown at Figure 3, to a raised position substantially as shown at Figure 4, to facilitate insertion of the shelf within the truck above the load. The snout or nozzle 14 is of rubber or resilient rubberized fabric and has its rear edges secured about the opening 11. As shown, the lower edge of the snout is attached to shelf 12 although it could be as well attached directly to the lower edge of the opening 11. The snout has substantially the same width as shelf 12 (see Figure 2) and a height about that of the usual space between the top layer of crates 2 and the ceiling 15 of the load compartment of the truck or trailer. Permanent creases 14.1, Figure 3, are formed in the sides of the snout, so that it may be easily collapsed and rolled up to a position as shown in Figure 4, when not in use. At this time, the shelf may be held up by a cord or chain 16 having a loop at its end to slip over a button 17 on the shelf as will be obvious from Figure 4. A hand hole and removable cover 18 may be provided in the top of easing 5 to facilitate proper insertion of the snout into the space above the load. It is contemplated that, when in rolled condition as shown at Figure 4, the pressure in passage 10 will be sufllcient to cause the snout to unroll to the position of Figure 3 to force the shelf down upon the load. As the snout is expansible the pressure of the entering air will force it into contact with the adjacent walls and ceiling of the truck and effectively prevent shortcircuiting or by-passing of the chilled entering air.

A substantially gas-tight seal between the open rear end of the truck or trailer and the communicating open end of casing 5, is effected by an inflatable pneumatic tube 19 of the same general size and shape as the rear loading opening of a standard trailer. Tube 19 is attached to the similarly-shaped rim of casing 5, by light flexible straps 20 of metal or woven tape. See particularly Figure 5. The lower rim of the rear opening of casing 5' is of substantial width in a vertical direction and the lower straps 20 are secured at their ends by screws 21 engaging threaded holes 22 in the casing. As indicated at 22, Figures 2 and 5, a number ofthese holes, vertically aligned, are-provided so that the tube may be adjusted to size, by smalldistances, to accommodate truck openings of other than standard size. Thus, for example, where a truck is to be pro-cooled and has a rear loading opening whose vertical dimension is somewhat less than standard, jacks 7 are operated to adjust the top of tube 19 into alignment with the top edge of the rear of the truck. Thereafter, the lower portion of the tube is adjusted into registration with the lower edge of the truck, by means of the removable straps Z0 and holes 22, in the manner just described.

If desired or necessary, a

similar arrangement may be provided to slightly adjust the sideor vertical portions of tube'19to accommodate trucks having load openings of a width other than standard.

In order to hold the truck and pro-cooler connected in air-tight relation, a numberof latches 23, Figure 7, are provided, four such latches being shown. Each may consist of a threaded rod 24 bent at one end as at 25 to form a hook which may be engaged over one of the rear door hinges of the truck. The other or threaded end of the rod passes loosely through the aperture of a lug 26 carried by a latch lever 27 pivoted at 28 to the side of casing 5. In operation of these latches, with the truck in contact with tube 1-9 and the latter properly adjusted, rod'24 is hooked over a hinge and, with lever 27 in the dotted line position of Figure 7, wing nut 29 is threaded down on rod 24 until the latter is under tension. Lever 7 is then pivoted downwardly to the solid line position determined by stop pin 30. This pivotal movement acts in an obvious manner to draw the casing 5 toward the truck to compress tube 19 and establish a snug, air-tight seal between the truck load opening and easing 5. Also the tension on rod 24,- being offset from pivot 28, acts to hold the latch in position. The tube may be filled with air under pressure and, if desired or found necessary, as where the truck opening is of unusual formation, additional air may be forced into the tube after connection has been made, asdescribed, to expand the tube and make certain that it conforms to the truck to make an effective seal.

A radiator or heat exchange unit 31 is mounted to fit within an opening formed in an otherwise solid'partition' 32 below the walls of passage 10, so that all air drawn from the truck compartment by blower 8, must pass through the unit 31. Cooling fluid such as chilled brine, is supplied to and exhausted from the unit 31, by pipes 33 and 34 each having therein a control valve 35 and 36, respectively. Pipes 33 and 34 may be connected to form a circuit from a source of chilled liquid, not shown. Circulation is maintained by a suitable power pump, also not shown.

Figures 8 and 9 show in side and end elevation, respectively, a number of crates of fruit tightly packed within the truck. The crates have solid ends and each is tightly packed so that the thin flexible side edges are bowed or flexed outwardly as illustrated in Figure 8. The crates are sized so as to utilize efiiciently the available load-carrying space of standard trucks or trailers From Figures 8 and 9, it will be noted that the crates are tightly packed in the truck in end to end relation. Due to the aforementioned arcuate spaced side strips, the crates touch each other at their mid portions only, thus leaving a'space of about one inch all around at their ends, as indicated at 37. At their central or mid portions, there is only a relatively small space between the bowed side slats, as indicated at 38, Figure 9. It will thus be seen that the available space for the passage of a given volume of chilled air, is materially greater at the ends of the crates than at their central portions. In other words, for a given volume of air to pass horizontally past a stack of crates located in any vertical cross sectional plane through the truck, the air after passing the ends of the crates, will enter the crates and pass between the interstices between the oranges or other articles, and emerge again adjacent the other end of the stack.

Heretofore, it was deemedimpossible or inexpedient to pre-cool a load of crates tightly packed-in the aforesaid manner because of the relatively great resistance to the passage of chilled air in and through the load. Hence it was previously the practice to pro-cool the packed crates in a refrigerated room prior to loading. However, this results in excessive handling costs, increased time between crating and shipment, and reheatingof the fruit during loading. While fruit-carrying trucks are commonly equipped with refrigerating units, these do not ordinarily have sulricient-capacity to reduce the temperature of the load very much, but only to maintain the low temperature of the load effected by pre-cooling.

We have discovered that satisfactory and efficient precooling of a tightly packed load of crates can be effected provided a sufficiently high entering pressure is used to supply a large volume of chilled air above the load so that an appreciable portion of the entering air is forced to the front of the loaded compartment and is thus prevented from short-circuiting through the rear portion of the load only. In other words, by using a sufficiently high entering pressure, we utilize the resulting velocity of the entering cooling air to assure that the flow will be substantially uniform through all portions of the load to effect correspondingly uniform and rapid pro-cooling. In addition, the reduced space at the middle portions of the stacked crates compels a substantial volume to deflect through the interstices between the individual articles within the crates and thus assures adequate and substantially uniform extraction of heat from each of the articles within each crate. We have found that a static pressure of approximately 0.5 inch of water or more is satisfactory for the purpose of our invention and results in a remarkably even and rapid lowering of temperature throughout the load.

In carrying out the method of our invention with the apparatus shown in Figures l7, the loaded truck, with its rear doors open, is backed up against the tube 19 after any necessary adjustments have been made in the position of the latter by means of straps 20. Hooks 23 are adjusted and turned down and the tube 19 is additionally inflated if necessary or desirable. Shelf 12 is released and the circulation of chilled liquid through pipes 33 and 34 is begun. The motor driving blower 8 is started and the pressure generated will ordinarily force nozzle 14 and shelf 12 to the positions shown at Figure 1. Otherwise the parts can be manually adjusted by removal of cover 18. The blower has a capacity and speed sufficient to discharge the air from nozzle 14 under a relatively high pressure of 05 inch of water or more. As a result we have found that, despite the tightly packed load, a proportionate volume of chilled air is forced to the front of the load so that an even circulation through the load is established. Furthermore, since the chilled air is forced to detour through the crates at the centers thereof, the air directly contacts the oranges or other articles packed therein and results in a remarkably rapid and even pull down of the temperature of the load. The blower has a capacity and speed sufficient to discharge air from the nozzle in large volume, of the order of 10,000 C. F. M. and under the relatively high pressure of 0.5 inch of water, as previously mentioned.

In Figures through 15, we have shown a second preferred form of apparatus for carrying out the invention. In these figures, a cooling unit generally identified at 40 comprises a frame consisting of spaced parallel bottom plates 41 and 42, Figure 13, adapted to be adjustably fixed to the supporting platform 43. As shown best at Figure 15, a metallic strip 44, generally C-shaped in cross section is embedded and anchored in the platform in parallel spaced relation with the edge 43a thereof, as by anchor bolts 45 so that the top surface of the strip with its slot 44a, Figure 13, is flush with the platform surface. At intervals the slot 44a is notched as at 44b for the insertion of a pair of square-headed bolts 46 which have their shanks extending up through slot 44a and a selected one of a plurality of holes 48 in a respective plate 41 or 42. A wing nut 47 on each bolt clamps its plate to the platform. By providing a number of holes 48, the position of the cooling unit may be adjusted relatively to the edge of the platform as will be obvious from Figure 13.

Plate 41 has a pair of spaced vertical screws 49 and 50 welded thereto and rising therefrom. Likewise, plate 42 has a similar pair of screws 51 and 52 secured to it. Screw 49 has a worm gear 53, Figure 15, threaded thereon.

Likewise the screws 50, 51 and 52 have respective Worn'i gears, 54, 55 and 56 threaded thereon. Gears 53 and 54 are journaled in and between a frame comprising vertically spaced parallel channels 57 and 58 rigidly connected at their ends in back-to-back relation by plate 59, Figure 15. The gears are so mounted as to be freely rotatable but prevented from axial movement relatively to channels 57 and 53. Gears 55 and 56 are journaled in a like manner between channels, one of which is identified at 60, Figure 11. The screws 49 and 51 are left hand while screws 50 and 52 are right hand.

Spaced horizontal parallel shafts 61 and 62, Figure 11, are journaled in and between the channels in a manner obvious from inspection of Figure 15. Shaft 61 has worms 63 and 64 keyed thereto, each in mesh with a gear 53 and 55, respectively. Shaft 61 also has sprocket 65 keyed thereto in any convenient position on the shaft.

Shaft 62 is'journaled in the same manner as shaft 61 and has worms 66 and 67 keyed thereto, in mesh with respective gears 54 and S6. A sprocket 68 is keyed to shaft 62 and is connected with sprocket 65 by a chain 69. A crank 70 is fixed to the protruding end of shaft 61 and, when turned, simultaneously operates all of the worm gears to effect their equal vertical translation, together with channels 57, 58, etc. along the fixed screws 49 through 52.

A frame comprises vertical angles 71 and 73 welded to the respective ends of channels 58, and like vertical angles 72 and 74- welded to bottom channels 60. Angles 71 and '73 are connected at their tops by an angle 75, Figures 10 and 12, with its lower flange projecting inwardly to form a track. Verticals 72 and 74 are connected in a similar manner by a horizontal angle 76 also positioned with its lower horizontal flange extending inwardly toward track '75. From Figure 10 it will be noted that the tracks project a substantial distance forwardly from the verticals 73 and 74 so that they may extend into the upper rear portion of truck or trailer 77. From Figure 11, it will be noted that plate 59 unites the frame parts at the rear lower portion. Braces such as 78 and 79 are provided to lend rigidity to the frame.

A relatively thin solid lower plate 80 is secured to the forward faces of verticals 73 and 74. As seen from Figure 12, this plate extends upwardly to and abuts against the under sides of tracks and 76 and in conjunction with pneumatic sealing tube 81, later described, effectively seals the lower portion of the trucks rear loading opening during pre-cooling.

The cooling unit consists of a generally rectangular casing 82 having a solid rear wall plate 83 and duplicate side plates 84 one of which is shown in Figure 10. From Figure 12 it will be noted that the rear wall plate 83 is shaped and dimensioned to coact with lower plate to form a substantially complete closure for the loading opening of the trailer when the unit is in operating position therewithin. A heat exchange unit 85 is shown, merely illustratively, as a pair of headers 86 interconnected by a plurality of U-shaped pipes 37. Coolant such as chilled brine is supplied under pressure, by means not shown, through a supply coupling 88, and exhausted through a second coupling 89. See Figures 10 and 12. Valves, not shown, may be provided, if desired between each coupling 88 and $9 and its respective header.

A bladed fan 90 is mounted for rotation on a central vertical axis over the cooling coils 87 and within a circulating opening in a horizontal shroud plate 91. A series of curved turning or deflector plates 92 are mounted over the fan to deflect the chilled air horizontally and forwardly in the truck over the load.

As best shown in Figure 12, a substantially gas tight seal is effected between the plates 30 and 82 and the truck, by means of inflatable pneumatic tubes. These include a lower tube 81 secured to and extending along the lower edge of plate 80, in position to engage the rear edge of the truck floor as clearly shown at Figure 10. Thistube may be inflated and deflated by air supplied through a pipe 93. A pair of sealing tubes 94 and 95 are .coextensive with the vertical side edges of plate 80 and are supplied with air under pressure by way of branch pipes 96 and 97, Figure 12. Pipes 93, 96 and 97 are supplied from a single nipple 98. A shut-off valve 99 enables the tubes to be deflated when desired. In a similar manner, a pneumatic tube 100] is attached to the top edge of wall 83 to effect a seal between this edge and the truck. Likewise vertical tubes 101 and 102 are secured to the vertical side edges of plate 83 and, in conjunction with tubes 94 and 95 complete a seal along the vertical edges of the truck load opening. Another pneumatic tube 103, Figure 12, is attached along the lower edge of wall plate 83 and, when the cooling unit is rolled into final position along tracks 75 and 76, that is, the position shown in Figure 10, contacts the upper edge of plate 8t) and effectively seals thecrack between the adjacent edges of the plates. Tubes 100, 101, 102 and 103, are supplied with air from a common nipple 104 and branch pipes 105, 106, 107 and 108 leading to the respective tubes. A valve 109 .enables the tubes to be deflated when desired. Nipples 98 and 104 may bethe same as those used in automobile inner tubes. Valves 09 and 109 permit air to escape directly from nozzles 110 and 111 without passing through nipples 98 and 104.

A shallow pan 112, Figure 12, is mounted within the cooling unit 82, below coils 87, for the purpose of catching condensate dropping from the coils. This condensate may be drained from the pan by way of a pipe 113. A valve, not shown, may be used to drain the pan as desired. From Figure 10, it will be noted that a blanket 114 with a tubular edge, is placed over the tops of the crates forwardly of the blower unit 82 in position to have its rolled edge pressed between the blower casing and the adjacent top row of crates. This blanket extends over the first few tiers of crates only and acts, in an obvious manner, to prevent short-circuiting of the chilled air through the load.

In using the form of the invention just described, the truck or trailer, fully loaded except for two or three tiers at the rear of the load, as indicated upon Figure 10, is backed up into approximately correct position adjacent platform 43. Any necessary adjustments of the cooler unit 40 laterally or forwardly can be effected after loosening wing nuts 47. Crank 70 is then operated to effect any necssary adjustments of the unit vertically. Unit 82 is then rolled along tracks 75 and '76 into the truck, after placement of blanket 114 as in Figure 10. When the unit 82 is in position as shown in Figure 10, its rear panel 83 completes the closure of the load opening. All pneumatic tubes are now in position to complete the sealing of the load opening. If desired, the tubes may be additionally inflated from a source of air pressure, not shown, applied to nipples 98 and 104.

Pipe connections from a source of cooling liquid, not shown, are made with couplings 88 and 89 and the circulation of liquid through coils 87 is begun. The motor, not shown, driving fan 90 by means of a conventional V-belt and pulleys, is started. Air from the rear lower portion of the load is drawn upward, cooled in passing coils 87, and deflected forwardly by vanes 92 over the load. Because of the high discharge pressure the chilled air isrprojected forwardly over the load in sucha manner that an even flow is established throughout the load, with consequent rapid, even, and efficient lowering of temperature in all parts thereof.

We have thus provided a pre-cooling method which permits maximum loading of the conveyance while effecting the rapid and efficient reduction in the temperature thereof. As a result, shipping costs and spoilage in transit are reduced to a minimum.

While we have shown the preferred form of the invention, together with a modification thereof, various changes, rearrangements of parts, and substitution of equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art after a study of the foregoing disclosure. Consequently, we desire not to be limited to the precise details of construction shown and the disclosure should be taken in an illustrative rather than a limiting sense. It is our desire and intention to reserve all such changes as fall within the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having now fully disclosed the invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

=1. The method of pro-cooling fruit for shipment packed in crates having substantially imperforate rectangular ends and sides of flexible spaced slats bowed outwardly by the fruit packed therein, comprising, packing the closed shipping compartment of a vehicle in contiguous side-.by-side and end-to-end relation to form a load consisting of a plurality of superposed layers completely filling said compartment to a distance from the ceiling thereof not greater than the vertical dimension of one of the layers to leave a space of low height extending over the dead, directing a stream of chilled air having substantiallythesame cross section as the transverse vertical section ofsaid space, horizontally into said space from one end of .the load toward the other and under a pressure head of about one-half inch of water whereby said .air enters the load in substantially uniform distribution over the space, withdrawing the air from said one end of the load below saidspace, re-cooling the air .so Withdrawn, and recirculating the same as aforesaid.

2. That method of pre-cooling the enclosed load-carryingspace and contents therein, of a truck-trailer having a rear closable load opening, comprising, packing loaded fruit crates having imperforate ends and bowed slatted sides into said space and in contacting end-to-end and side-by-side relation to form a plurality of stacked layers of crates with said slatted sides extending substantially longitudinally of said space and to a height not less than one layer below the top of the vehicle space to define an air space, directing a stream of chilled air longitudinally into said space from one end thereof and under a pressure head of about one half inch of water and having about the same transverse cross section as the vertical transverse section of the space, whereby the chilled air is substantially evenly distributed over the load before entering the same downwardly, withdrawing the air trom the load at said one end below the space,re-cooling the withdrawn air and recirculating the same as aforesaid.

3. That method of pre-cooling perishable produce for shipment packed in crates having substantially imperforate rectangular ends and sides of spaced slats bowed outwardly by the produce packed therein, comprising, positioning a plurality of said packed crates within the enclosed load compartment of a vehicle, in end-to-end and side-by-side contiguous relation longitudinallyofsaid compartment, without spacer strips, to form a plurality of superposed layers completely filling the compartment to a distance below the ceiling thereof not greater than the vertical dimension of one layer to define aspace of low height extending over the load, directing a streamof chilled air horizontally from one end of said space toward the other over the entire transverse vertical crosssectional area of the space and under a pressure head suflicient to cause the stream to carryto the remote end of the space, whereby said air enters the load in substantially uniform distribution thereovenwithdrawing the air frornsaid one end of the load below said space, re-chilling the withdrawn air, and re-circulating the re-chilled air ,as ,aforesaid.

4. That method of preparing for shipment, .produce packedin crates having square rigid substantially imperforate ends and flexible spaced side slats secureddo said ends and bowed concave outwardly by the produce packed therein to form a central cross section larger than said ends, comprising, packing said cratestightly intothelo ad carrying compartment of a vehicle in longitudinally disposed,end: t0rnd and side bypidecontact tofor rn aph -v rality of horizontal layers stacked to a distance below the ceiling of the compartment not greater than the vertical dimension of one of said laycrs, to thereby define a space of low height over the entire area of the load, directing a stream of chilled air horizontally into said space from one end only of the compartment and under a pressure head of about one-half inch of water to cause at least a portion of the entering air to carry to the remote end of the compartment before entering the load, withdrawing air from said one end of the compartment opposite and over the end area of the load, re-chilling the withdrawn air and then recirculating the Withdrawn air as aforesaid.

5. The method of pre-cooling edible food produce for shipment packed in crates having substantially imperforate ends and sides of flexible spaced slates bowed outwardly by the produce packed therein to have a central cross sectional area greater than the ends, comprising, packing a plurality of said crates in longitudinally disposed side-by-side and end-to-end contacting relation within the closed load-carrying compartment of a vehicle,

to form a plurality of superposed layers completely filling the compartment to a distance below the ceiling thereof not materially greater than the vertical dimension of one said layer to define a space horizontally coextensive with one said layer, directing a stream of chilled air horizontally into said space from one end thereof toward the other, over the entire transverse cross section of the space, withdrawing air from the packed crates at the corresponding one end thereof, re-cooling the withdrawn air and recirculating the re-cooled air as aforesaid, said chilled air entering the load substantially uniformly throughout said space.

References Cited in the file of this patent 

